A Walk in Faith and Hope
Hope does not disappoint – Romans 5: 5
On 24 December 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of St. Peter’s Basilica and declared 2025 as the Jubilee Year (Holy Year) with the theme ‘Pilgrims of Hope’ to renew ourselves.
“We cannot become true pilgrims of hope until we also allow our encounter with Jesus Christ to transform our hearts. No matter what the world throws at us, Christians should have the courage to press forward in hope.” (Pope Francis).
On 7 June, the Confirmation class from different language groups- Tamil, Mandarin and English came together for a meaningful walking pilgrimage led by Fr. Dom and accompanied by their teachers.The journey began at 7:30 AM from Penang Sentral. This pilgrimage was not only spiritual but also a a communal experience to build unity among the various language groups. It was intended to help the confirmation students encounter Christ and renew their spirit as Pilgrims of Hope in preparation for their forthcoming Sacrament of Confirmation on 7 December.
The morning walk to the Church of the Assumption was refreshing and pleasant, as we soaked in the charm of Penang’s colonial architecture. The historic Church of the Assumption, with the statue of Mary welcomed us warmly. There, the students took the lead in coordinating the celebration of Mass, which was presided by Fr. Dom.
During his homily, Fr. Dom reminded the pilgrims what it truly means to be a disciple of Jesus:
- Accept the teachings of Jesus– To follow Jesus is to believe in His message and make it our foundation.
- Imitate His way of life – Living with love, compassion, and service. Discipleship means striving to be more like Jesus in both character and action.
- Become missionaries – As Jesus said in Matthew 28:19–20, we are called to make disciples of all nations. This means serving others, helping those in need, and being a positive influence in the world.
- Trust in Him – Let God’s grace transform our lives. This transformation is ongoing, marked by continual growth in faith, love, and obedience.
After Mass, the pilgrims had an opportunity to write petitions and light a candle at the side altar. During breakfast at the parish hall, teacher Lawrence gave a brief explanation about St. George’s Church and the origins of the Protestant churches. Despite the rain, the pilgrims walked zealously to their next holy site -St. Francis Xavier Church.There, Elisa and Brian shared inspiring stories about the life of St. Francis Xavier, followed by a meaningful group reflection and sharing.
The pilgrimage concluded with a walk back to the Jetty. Along the way, the pilgrims were treated to the famous Penang Road Chendol and enjoyed exploring Armenian Street together. It was a day of faith, fellowship, and fun- one that contributed to knowing one another better and growing as a faith community. A special gratitude to Fr. Dom, the teachers of different language groups , the volunteers and the students for making it a ‘walk with faith and hope’. SR
The following were the comments from the pilgrims:
Elisa: When we all are attending the mass, I felt my mind focused on God. At that time, I lifted up all my petitions – family, school, in society and myself. After that, I felt a sense of peace. As we walked along Georgetown, we had delicious chendol cendol and bought some souvenirs back. It was a memorable moment.
Danila: I enjoyed knowing more about the history of the churches
Nico& Aaron: WE learned a lot about St Francis Xavier, his miracles and his mission.
Brian: What touched me the most is having trust in Jesus because no matter how hard our life is and walking in hope in Jesus. Hope to have another pilgrimage again.
Domingo: Was touched by the caring & sharing of the team during the tour. Hope to have more dialogue with other language groups and leaders to lead the Confirmation group.
